Electric-lamp switch.



M..J. HPPUK.

ELEGTRG LAMP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1o, 1912.

IIII 1,

Patented Mai'. 19H3.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

MURRAY JAY HOPPOCK, OF :FRANKFOIRIL- MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SWITCH.

sistance type.

In carrying out the presentl invent-ion, it is my purpose to provide a switch'ofthe class described whereby any predetermined quantity of current may be delivered to the filaments ofthe lamp without the use of snap switches',l turn buttons and thev like, thereby enabling the lampfto give forth-any desired candle power. n

lt is also my purpose to provide a variable resistance elect-ric lam-p switch wherein by means of a plurality of sections of resistance and a rotatable lamp socket member any desired amount of current may be fed into the filaments of the lamp for illuminating purposes and the filaments cut into and out of the circuit independently of the re sistance sections so that the lamps may receive the full quantity of current and be extinguished, respectively, without placing the resistance sections -in the circuit.

Furthermore, I aim to provide a lamp switch of the type set forth which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, eiciency, durability and convenience and which may be manufactured and marketed at a relatively low cost.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in lthe construction, combination and arrangementv of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim. i

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lamp switch constructed in accordance with my invention, the lamp bulb being shown attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the numeral 1 designates a shell or casing constructed of any suitable material and formed, in the present in- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mai-.4,1913.

Application tiled July 1Q, 1912. SerialNo. 708,676.

stance, with a relatively large section 2 and a small section 3 integral with the large sec-V tion A and depending therefrom. Suitably fastened within the relatively large port-ion 2 of the casingis al body of insulating material 4 in which is embedded a plurality of resistance sections 5 connected in series with a wire 6 terminating in a suitable form of Contact 7 appropriately fastened to the upper surface of the body of insulating material. Arranged within the casing 1 preferably at the junction of the sections 2 and 3 thereof is a disk 8 preferably constructed `of insulating material and provided on its under surface with a plurality of contacts 9 each forming a terminal of o-ne ofthe resistance sections 5, a dead contact 10, and a contact 11 connected in the wire 6 in advance of the resistance sections and permitting the full amount of current to be delivered. These contacts 9, 10 and.

11 are arranged in a circular path on the free surface of the disk 8 at suitable distances apart and are disposed concentrically of the center of such disk. Passed centrally through the body of insulating material 4 and the disk 8, is a cent-ral terminal 12 which, in the present instance, is in the form of a shank `having a threaded end 13 eX- tending beyond the contact bearing surface of the disk, while the free extremity thereof forms .a contact member 14 disposed in proximity to the contact member 7 and cooperating therewith to receive the current conductors 15, 15 yforming the circuit for deliveringcurrent to the lamp, a suitable insulating sleeve 16 incasing the central terminal to effectively insulate the same.

A socket forming member for receiving the lamp is` designated by the numeral 17 and in the present inst-ance consists of a metallic shell 18 threaded interiorly to receive the lamp plug, and surrounded by a strip of insulatingmaterial 19, an internally threaded ring 20 being carried by the 'upper end of the shell 18 and suitably insufinger 21 whereby such finger will engage thefcontacts 'on the di'sk 8 thereby cutting sections of the resistance into and out. of the circuit.

From the foregoingfdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. When it is desired to illuminate the lamp, the lamp bulb may be grasped by the hand of an operator and rotated thereby rotating the socket member whereby the contact inger 21 will successively engage the contacts 9 and the resistance sections will be out of the circuit gradually. Should it be desired to illuminate the lamp to give forth a predetermined candle power, the lamp socket member is rotated until the desired sections of theresistance have been cut in 0r out of the circuit. On the other hand, should it be deslred to permit the full current to enter the filaments of the lamp, the socket member is rotated in an opposite direction thereby engaging' the contact finger 21 with the contact 11, the latter being disposed immediately adjacent t-he dead contact 10, such lastname'd contact being out of the circuit so that when the nger 2l is in yengagement therewith the lamp is extinguished. Thus,

by rotating the lamp socket member in one direction from the dead contact, the sections of resistance may be cut out of the circuit successively, while an opposite movement of the socket member enables the full quantity of current to be delivered to the filaments of the lamp independently of the resistance sections.

It will be noted that I have provided an exceedingly simple, yet eliicient and durable form of variable resistance electric lamp switch wherein the use of snap switches,

turn buttons and the like is eliminated and by.means of which the current may be fed to the lamp -in any desired quantity.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claim and Wit-hout departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: v

An electric' lamp switch comprising a shell formed with a relatively large section ,and va small section depending from the large section, a plurality of resistance sec@ tions connected in series with one another vand disposed within the large section of the shell, an insulating disk within the shell and provided with a plurality of contacts arranged in a circular path and forming the terminals of saidsresistancesections, a cen-l tral terminal within the shell and extended through said disk centrally ofthe contacts and provided with a threaded extremity, a socketlmember mounted within the small section ofthe shell, an interiorly threaded ring carried by said socket member and insulated therefromand threadedly engaging the adjacent end of 'said terminal, and a springinger carried by said socket member and adapted to Contact with any one of said contacts.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

M. J. HorPocK, Sen., E. S. Hormon,v 

